Network in decline

Keith Olbermann is out at ESPN. And while conservatives may cheer the migration of his views away from “the worldwide leader in sports,” revelations that ESPN’s subscriber base is falling and other cuts are looming point to deeper changes in the industry.

The network has lost 3.2 million cable and satellite subscribers in about a year—more than 7 million since 2011. Add that to ballooning costs for deals with sports leagues—the deal with the NBA triples to $1.47 billion next year—and it’s little wonder that ESPN commentators Bill Simmons and Colin Cowherd are also looking for work.

Executives have been careful not to reveal the extent of the trouble, but the words “market correction,” per Business Insider, may fit the mounting evidence that Disney’s cash cow is in trouble.

One theory is the rise of ESPN’s moral and political advocacy. ESPN took hits from all political persuasions as personalities like Stephen A. Smith earned reprimands debating issues like domestic violence. People like their news without views—let alone that throughout the ESPY’s coronation of Bruce Jenner’s new persona, the network defended its second year of promoting its sexual worldview with an award.

Most analysts, though, blame the internet and the phenomenon of “cord-cutting.” The days are numbered for Big Cable and its expensive packages of mostly unused channels. ESPN has the most to lose as the priciest channel in those packages, at more than $6 monthly. Internet streaming services and even sports packages are increasingly available elsewhere, even on devices like Xbox.

Meanwhile, ESPN has pledged at least $6 billion to leagues to keep them from competitors like FOX Sports 1 (now ahead of ESPN2 in ratings). That’s led Disney, by some reports, to order annual budget cuts of $250 million by next year.

ESPN, with 8,000 employees, will remain large, but how many blows can it stand?

Greatness redefined

With a third World Cup title in hand for the U.S. Women’s National Team, life goes on for the ladies. Alex Morgan and Sydney Leroux both underwent surgery as the parade circuit wound down. Shannon Boxx and Lauren Holiday announced pending retirements. Holiday, at 27 and in her prime, surprised many with her announcement. But the professing Christian (see “USA unified,” June 27, 2015) said she wanted to show women that greatness isn’t defined by sports. “I feel like professional athletics is very you-central,” she told NBC. “I feel like I was ready to serve other people.” —A.B.

Net gains

An Oakland Athletics fan sued Major League Baseball July 13 over fan safety. The potentially class-action suit doesn’t seek money. Rather, the fan wants season ticket holders to join in demanding that safety netting extend from home plate to both foul poles. Broken bats and foul balls cause 1,750 injuries a year, the suit states. The NHL has used netting since a girl died in 2002 from an errant puck. In June, the Athletics were at Boston’s Fenway Park when a bat shard struck a woman in the head, nearly killing her. —A.B.